Saturday, 16 July 2011

Whats that wading in the water

Wood sandpiper

We headed northbound for the Marsh Sandpiper at blacktoft sand RSPB and the Spotted Sandpiper at Rutland water, we left Rob house really early Saturday morning and arrived at Blacktoft sands RSPB round about 7:30 and there was negative news on the bird.

Marsh harrier

So we decided to walk to the First hide, to see what we could note which was 3 Green sandpipers, we heard a Raven, Rob heard a Bearded tit calling and we had about 3-5 Marsh harriers flying around, we decided to move along to the Singleton hide were the Marsh sandpiper was seen from the night before, but all that we could pick out was at least 3 Wood sandpipers and one coming really close in, we also had two Spoonbills, Lots of redshanks. One Greenshank, three Avocets, a few really nice ruff and a really really close female Marsh harrier showing really well.

Spoonbill

In the next hide along we noted down a lone Common and Green sandpiper and, and pair of Avocets, So we then headed toward the Marshland hide were we were told that the Marsh sandpiper also gets seen from, and along the way we met a nice guy called Richard who gave Rob his number because he was going to go to the Ousefleet wacthpoint which was area for waders, so we continued to head towards that marshland hide which was very jam packed with birders but we did notice a flock Black tailed godwits, a few Dunlin and Pied wagtails, a lone Snipe and a few Teal, and then Rob got a call from Richard to say he had just seen the Marsh sandpiper from the Ousefleet wacthpoint so everyone headed over there in a hurry.

Marsh sandpiper

When we arrived the Marsh sandpiper had just gone out of view, so we took the time to take in all the nice looking Spotted redshank, and then all the Spotted redshanks and Dunlin headed round the corner to feed were the Marsh sandpiper was, they all went out of view for about 5-10 minutes then they all started coming back out and then there it was, a beautiful Marsh sandpiper right in front of me feeding and showing really well, it done this four time all in all and some time seen in flight, we then decided to head of the Rutland water for the Spotted sandpiper on the way back to the car there were a few Tree sparrows by the visitor center

Spotted sandpiper

We arrived at Rutland water round about 12, and there was positive news on this bird so we quickly popped into the visitor center to pay for the entry and use the loo, then we rushed of to the Shallow water hide were the Spotted sandpiper gets seen from, when we got in the hide everyone was watching the Spotted sandpiper along the really far bank were it was distance but you still got good views of it, we saw the Spotted sandpiper with Common and Green sandpipers.

We then noticed 5 osprey sitting just in front of us which is the highest number for me, they showed amazingly in flight trying to catching fish but with no luck. we watched them in the nest there was two adult and three juvenile Osprey,

Osprey

we watched the Spotted sandpiper and the Ospreys for about and 1:30 minutes and the decided it was time to head of but just then the sandpiper was flushed up by a osprey and flew over the water towards us and landed about 25 yards away in front of the hide. amazing opportunity was had to see all the key feature at close range the lovely supercilium the beak and all the spotting it stayed in front of the hide for about 30 minutes before it flew back out to the far bank and after that amazing Sandpiper feast we decided to head home.